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Help Someone Have an Unforgettable Day on the Slopes

By Beacon Staff

The local Disabled Recreation and Environmental Access Movement (DREAM) is looking for volunteers to help children and adults with disabilities enjoy the ski slopes on Big Mountain this winter.

Volunteers will act as instructors and ski buddies and help someone else experience the thrill of skiing.

The DREAM is a great program and a very rewarding one for everyone involved. I always love seeing that flicker in someone’s eyes as they start becoming comfortable on the mountain and pretty soon are zipping around unabashedly. It’s a sight to see.

Whitefish Mountain Resort is offering free daily lift tickets to those who volunteer for the DREAM program. Volunteers should have an intermediate skill level on skis and new volunteers need to go through orientation. Those dates are listed below along with more information.

Definitely consider volunteering for the DREAM program. It’s an opportunity that could really make someone else’s day unforgettable, along with your own.

Join DREAM (Disabled Recreation and Environmental Access Movement) for our 25th season on the snow working with people with disabilities. DREAM Adaptive Recreation Inc., is a non-profit volunteer program dedicated to sharing the joy of skiing with people challenged by physical and mental disabilities. Each winter, DREAM volunteers use their skills and expertise to help children and adults with disabilities reach new heights of confidence as they improve their ability and conquer new challenges. Lifelong friends, hugs, smiles, and tears of joy are just some of the rewards that the DREAM family of volunteers experience.

Becoming a volunteer with DREAM is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, face exciting challenges, learn and improve new skiing skills, contribute to your community, and have fun! We will train intermediate to advanced skiers to teach adaptive snow sports. No experience with ski instruction or with disabilities is necessary. Volunteers range in age from 18 to 80 and include people from all walks of life. The success of DREAM is due to volunteers who generously contribute more than 3,000 hours each year.
A free all-lift ticket, courtesy of Whitefish Mountain Resort, is provided on the days you volunteer as an instructor or ski buddy with DREAM.

DREAM has scheduled orientation and training clinics for people interested in volunteering as ski buddies and instructors. Orientation is required for new volunteers and those volunteers not attending an orientation in the last three years.

All volunteers are required to attend our on-snow clinic to learn more about the DREAM program, learn about adaptive skiing equipment and practice techniques. Ski volunteers should be at least intermediate level skiers.

Together, the Orientation and Training Clinics are designed to answer questions and prepare volunteers to work with a child or adult with a physical or mental disability; guiding the skiing process or assisting in improving skiing skills.

Becoming a DREAM volunteer is a great opportunity for people wanting to get involved with an organization that values its volunteers and provides an enriching environment to give back to the community.

Call 862-1817 or email [email protected] for more information

DREAM Orientation and Training Clinics
Please plan on attending an Evening Orientation AND the Training Clinics, Whitefish Mountain Resort will provide (through DREAM) a free lift ticket on the Saturday clinic day and on the days you volunteer as an instructor or ski buddy.

Volunteer Orientations: Attend One (required for new volunteers and others not attending an orientation in the last tree years)
November 29 (Tuesday) at 7:00 pm; The Wave (Whitefish) –Board Room (upstairs) 7:00pm

December 1 (Thursday) at 7:00pm; Room AT139 in the Arts and Technology Building at FVCC – Kalispell
Volunteer Training: Dec. 8 and Dec. 10 – Required for All Volunteers (new and returning)
Adaptive Training: December 8 (Thursday) at 6:30 pm – FVCC AT Building Room 139

On-Snow Training: December 10 (Saturday) Meet at the Base Lodge by 9:00 am with ski gear

Optional: sit-ski training Dec 11 (Sunday) Meet at the Base Lodge by 9:00 am with ski gear

For More Information: 862-1817 (leave message) or [email protected]